Thoughts and commentary about the janitorial and office cleaning business.

06/12/2015

Floor safety tips

1) Use a not-skid floor finish. Higher end products by reputable manufacturers will meet slip resistant standards; the inexpensive off-brand product that your "ma & pa" or franchised janitorial service picks up might not. Your service should have provided you an MSDS book, covering all the chemicals they bring into your facility (OSHA requires you to have all that safety info); a quick look ought tell you what product they say they're using. Might be a good idea to double check as the ob is being cone, just to be safe.

2) It's best to stop loose dirt and dust, and particularly oil and the gunk from your parking lot, at the entry. Therefor, rent treated entry mats; they work much better than the one you purchased at the office supply store. First, you can never get your purchased mat clean (the mat rental company has a really big washing machine), and second, the mat folks treat the mat with a goop that grabs the fine particles, and the grease and oil.

3) Keep your floors clean, ongoing. Vacuum them often (even on tile, a vacuum picks up much more stuff than does a dust-mop). Damp mop your tile and vinyl just as often, with a product that will cut any oil or dirt, but not leave a residue. A detergent, or oil, residue, will both attract dirt and (usually) increase slipperiness. Use a microfiber mop, not a cotton string mop - it scrubs better, and leaves less water and dirt behind. Also, clean up spills immediately.

4) Don't leave stuff in or near traffic paths. No boxes, computer cords, or anything else. People do not watch where they're going.

A whole lot of workplace injuries are the result of slips and falls. And they are expensive. A competent commercial janitorial service, like mine, can help you with much of the above, but the final responsibility, both legally and morally, is yours.

We've offered janitorial services in Phoenix since 1974; hold the BBB's A-plus rating; and have long been in the forefront of the industry in environmentally sensitive cleaning for health, safety and security. Our office cleaning program can generally improve Indoor Air Quality, in the size range of most allergens, by a factor of 50%, as reflected in our ongoing IAQ sampling. We also furnish Green Seal certified recycled restroom paper products and janitorial supplies.